Windsor Terrace Reno

« Drats! Foiled again. Ready, Set... »

August 16, 2007

Battle of the Bowls

A long, long time ago (2006) I walked this earth blissfully unaware that I was about to become one of the last few holdouts in a warring faction. That war being the never ending toilet debate.

I fall securely into the "it ain't broke, don't fix it" side of enjoying a good old fashion round bowl, normal height toilets of yor. I can't tell you why my toilet loyalty is so strong. Perhaps its a lifetime of usage at less than 15 inches from the floor. Maybe its the same part of my brain that is drawn to vintage doorknobs that draws me to the clean simplicity of a round bowl of standard height. Whatever it is, I dont like the new fangled "improvements" that have swept the toilet industry design. Ive never had any issue with the look or function of my current Amercian Standard circa 1979. Why did the toilet designers have to go change the game? And further, why are so many people buying the hype. I refuse to believe that we as a people are becoming so lazy that squatting down an extra two inches is now deemed "uncomfortable". The elongated bowl part had me completely befuddled until our very nice architect explained the use for it ever so delicately. Now it makes a wee bit (fraudian slip?) more sense to me but I still don't see the need. I dont find the new ones more comfortable or nicer looking. So what gives?

Simple then, just buy the regular old toilets you say? Well, Mr. Limestone is in the C.H.E.B.S (comfort height, elongagate bowl supporters) camp. If it were up to him, all of the new toilets would have the most elongated bowl imagineable and hover at about waist level. Thus, we've come to an unspoken truce not to discuss this further until absolutely necessary. But with most of our other fixtures selected and/or on their way, that time is coming. Who will survive the battle of the bowls?

Where do you fall in this debate? And more importantly, which toilets do you recommend? I like the look of the Kohler Memoirs and Bancroft lines but Im open to suggestions. I know a lot of the people reading are Toto fans but they don't really work with the vintage style we're going for so I'd rather avoid them if possible.

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.brownstoner.com/mte/mt-tb.cgi/1911

Comments

Um, I don't know how to say this delicately, but if you're not regular, the height of the new toilets makes it a little harder to do your business. Squatting down those extra two inches will make a difference.

Oh, my parents would be proud of all the useless knowledge knocking around in this brain, wouldn't they?

Posted by: guest at August 16, 2007 5:54 PM

I couldn't agree more!

Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at August 16, 2007 5:57 PM

i feel your pain
(and i believe guest is correct, though it's not only a question of regularity, just one of optimal health)

personally, i prefer an "honest toilet";
not one that speaks of "design"
with one caveat
when it comes to a cat pan
and all that sand/cedar/whatever flying around
a skirted commode becomes a plus
we went elongated but standard (not chair) height
(in all honesty the "toilet" discussion has become a running joke between g/ & contractor in our reno)
-ms. crown heights reno

Posted by: neene at August 17, 2007 10:08 PM

I insisted on an American Standard toilet for one of our bathrooms, and my husband insisted on an Eljer for our other bathroom. Height and elongated bowl came with the AS. Guess which toilet I ended up loving? The Eljer.

Posted by: dt at August 18, 2007 5:18 PM

We've gotten two Toto G Force Max toilets so far. One round, because the bathroom didn't have room for elongated, and one elongated. I love them both. They're low enough for me and my husband (we're both short), and my 3 year old can even get up there without a step stool. They're one piece, which I consider essential with a small boy in the house.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 20, 2007 11:43 AM

That was me above, Amy.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 20, 2007 11:44 AM

I bought the Toto when we dd our renovation and I hate it. Whenever it is flushed the dirty toilet water splashes out of the bowl. From the force I guess.

They claim it meets certain health criterion but I find it quite disgusting!

Posted by: guest at August 22, 2007 9:38 AM

Just got back from Italy. Yep, they still got the old 'bomb sites' in the rail stations. Anyone know where they're sold in the old USA?
Just remember: when you gotta go; you gotta go.

Posted by: guest at September 15, 2007 11:50 AM

This is one of the ongoing battles at our house.

Shortly after my husband moved in with me, I took him into the bathroom and pointed out these spots on the wall and told him I no longer wanted to see them. He needed to sit. He told me that they were in every bathroom, and I told him they are only in bathrooms that men and boys use. Taller toilet - Less splashing.

From his perspective, he doesn't like his dangling parts to touch the inside of the toilet bowl, and I can't blame him.

After negotiating the spacial and period issues of the old house we have decided on a reproduction toilet that has the comfort height, the deep bowl and is less than 27" deep so we can get through the door.

The winner is the Lydia toilet by DEA Bathroom Machineries.

http://www.deabath.com/Hightank/Lowtank/DEAWC/deawc.htm

DeAnna

Posted by: guest at November 1, 2007 6:05 PM

If anyone has bought the Lydia toilet from DEA Bathroom Machineries mentioned above, I would love to know how well it works. I couldn't find any reviews or studies about it's flush ability online and I'm afraid, coming from such a small manufacturer, buying one could be risky. It would be horrible if it doesn't work well.

Posted by: guest at April 30, 2008 1:34 AM